Search - Steve Hillage :: For to Next

Transition album--Kraftwerk copy

kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 06/30/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When Steve Hillage's LP, "For to Next" was first released, it came with an EP named "And Not Or". This CD contains both the LP and EP. The LP was originally about 42 minutes and the EP was about 32 minutes. So, this CD totals about 74 minutes."For to Next" is a transition album for Hillage. For the first 42 minutes of the CD, he is into German electronica. He sounds like a clone of Kraftwerk, only not as good. If you are really into Kraftwerk, you might appreciate this. If you prefer Hillage's older material, you might not like this at all.On the last 30 minutes (And Not Or) Hillage is reverts back to his old style. The nineth track is an excellent blend of the two styles. The remaining tracks are just like his earlier space rock style. Except for the last track, all these later tracks are very good, featuring soaring guitar solos. The last track is just boring and sounds to much like a rehash of earlier compositions. Steve Hillage may have been the greatest space rock guitarist of all time. He played with a number of people before joining Gong. He made a real impact on Gong's Radio Gnome trilogy of albums. He stayed on with the early mutations of Gong: Paragong and the first album of the jazz version of Gong (Shamal). If you can ever find the Paragong album, you should snap it up. It is only 20 minutes long, but it is fantastic.After this he went on his solo career, playing his space rock in a manner similar to Gong. He had some fantastic albums, such as L, Green and Herald. His playing was innovative and he took progressive rock in new and refreshing directions. Moreover, he was never tedious or pretentious as were groups like National Health or Happy the Man.After this album, Hillage stopped recording. He became a producer for groups like Simple Minds. In the late nineties, he began playing around with electronic dance music and has been rediscovered."

Steve Hillage - 'For To Next / And Not Or' (Virgin)

Mike Reed | USA | 05/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A nicely done Steve Hillage 2-for-1. Well, sort of. 'For To Next' here is a reissue of Hillage's 1983 work and 'And Not Or' is tagged on, but it was originally given away as a limited edition 'extra' freebie when the record first came out. Best described as progressive art-rock. Tunes here that truly deserve some praise are "Kamikaze Eyes", "Athens For The Blind", the awesome "Glory" and the two tracks that were co-written by Hillage and fellow Gongsters Daevid Allen and Mike Howlett, "Knights Templar" and "Still Golden". Very nice. According to the liner notes, this title's personnel was strictly a duo of Hillage-guitar, synthesizer & vocals and his companion, Miquette Giraudy-keyboards. A definite should-have."